September 7, 2021 – Today and had another sail with the orca family known as the T18’s and a minke whale like the day before. Yesterday we went north, and today we went south. The Biggs/Transient orcas skirted the edge of Salmon Bank where a minke whale was milling. Thankfully for the minke he/she wasn’t on their menu. They changed course and plowed through an active bait ball before continuing Southwest in the direction of Hein Bank. After leaving the orcas we had a great minke encounter with a familiar whale we lovingly call “Minke Mouse”. It’s got a nick on the leading edge of the dorsal fin. The minke was actively feeding lunging through bait balls munching on yummy forage fish.
Cormorants on Goose Island
Cattle Point Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Brothers T19B and T19C
Either T18 or T19 with Olympic Mountains
T19B
T19C
Excitement seeing the orcas
Minke whale near the orcas
Mt Baker and a beautiful day
T18’s traveling through the diving birds/bait ball
T18’s traveling through the diving birds/bait ball
T18’s traveling towards Hein Bank
T18’s traveling towards Hein Bank
T18’s traveling towards Hein Bank
Active bait ball and Mt Baker
Minke whale feeding on Salmon Bank
Minke whale lunging through bait ball
Minke whale feeding on Salmon Bank
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Harbor seals by Turn Island
Mt Baker with ferry
Sailing back to Friday Harbor
Route map 9-7-21